The UK government is pledging £1 million to back the reintroduction of golden eagles to England as early as next year. The government is backing a parallel golden eagle reintroduction project in Northumberland. Golden eagles were wiped out in England during the 19th century due to hunting.
A successful reinforcement of golden eagles has occurred along the Scottish border, with 28 chicks brought from the Scottish Highlands and Orkney Isles over the last eight years. Some golden eagles from the Scottish border have been temporarily migrating into England. Forestry England will launch a public consultation on the reintroduction of golden eagles.
A study by Forestry England identified 28 possible locations for new golden eagle populations, with eight providing the right climate, landscape, and minimal disturbance, and Northumberland as the favorite. The charity Restoring Upland Nature has seen widespread support for the return of golden eagles, but farming communities have raised concerns about threats to lambs. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with one in six species at risk of extinction according to 2023 research.
The government has backed other species reintroduction programmes, including pine martens, beavers, and whitefaced darter dragonflies. Golden eagles are one of the fastest animals on the planet, reaching speeds up to 200 mph in a dive, and have razor-sharp vision able to spot a rabbit moving three miles away. This funding initiative aims to restore a native species that has been absent from England for over a century, building on recent conservation successes in the region.